Bible Dictionary
Godliness
Godliness is practical reverence toward God expressed through faith, obedience, gratitude, submission, and holy living. It describes the substance of a life shaped by revealed religion.
Definition
Godliness is practical piety or reverence toward God. It includes knowledge, veneration, affection, dependence, submission, gratitude, and obedience, expressed in the whole conduct of life.
Biblical Usage
Godliness describes practical Christian living and, in 1 Timothy 3:16, the substance of revealed religion. It is presented as a quality to be cultivated together with other Christian virtues.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The whole of practical piety (1 Tim. 4:8; 2 Pet. 1:6). “It supposes knowledge, veneration, affection, dependence, submission, gratitude, and obedience.” In 1 Tim. 3:16 it denotes the substance of revealed religion.